The Canongate Kilwinning have also paid the high compliment of membership to Bros. the Hon. James Lyon Browne, 64th Regiment, of St. John's Lodge, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Christopher Dillon Bellew, of Mount Bellew, of Lodge 14, Galway.

GLASGOW.-Sir Henry Monteith, our Provincial Grand Master, has expressed a wish, in consequence of his advanced age, to resign that office. We have several worthy Brethren in view, but have not yet fixed on any one to recommend as his successor.* We have in the province some sixteen Lodges; the Kilwinning, St Mungo, and St. Mark, are foremsot. The Argyle, once the crack Lodge, has been long in a state of dormancy. The Kilwinning has been seized with a severe shock of mal-ambition, inflicted by one of its zealous members. Bro. Ramsay, a popular and accomplished professor of the college, who held the office of Senior Warden under the late Sir D. K. Sandford, consented to be put in nomination for Master; his election was considered certain, when another Brother actually canvassed for the office, and by stirring up votes that were seldom or ever forthcoming, he succeeded in being elected. No complaint can be made against his social character; but if his status did not present some objection, his mode of canvass does present an insuperable one. His opposition to Bro. Ramsay has inflicted so severe an injury on the Lodge, that we fear no exertions on his part can repair. Some members will not seek office, others have withdrawn from the Lodge. Dr. Arnott has withdrawn his name for proposition.

The St. Mungo, under the able presidency of Bro. G. Brodie, is healthy and thriving. The St. Mark is distinguished for the respectability and eminence of its members, who are cordial and affectionate to each other. It is the mother Lodge of that child of genius, the late Edmund Kean, of Sheridan Knowles, and of many other Brethren of the buskin and the sock. Lunardi, of æronautic fame, Lord Paget, and many others of rank and celebrity, belong to it. Its present Master, Brother James Miller, member of the faculty of physicians and surgeons, has commenced a series of pre-lections, embracing the history, nature, and objects of Masonry, short biographical sketches of those who have stood in any prominent or interesting relation with it; also occasional subjects relating to art and science. The success that has hitherto attended his exertions, affords him the strongest encouragement to proceed.

Lodge St. Mark, May 8.-The office-bearers and a goodly number of Brethren dined together in Lodge opened for the purpose of affiliating a worthy and highly distinguished Brother of the Order, Dr. Arnott, from the "north countrie," who is about to take up his residence in Glasgow, in consequence of his appointment to an important chair in its venerable University. The evening was spent in the usual hearty and happy manner, with all that expansion of soul and developement of the best feelings of our nature, so well known to the members of these ancient and honourable associations, and which constitute the peculiar fascination and charm of Masonic assemblies.

May 22.-The annual festival of the Thistle and Rose Lodge took place in Bro. John Gardner's house, 39, Saltmarket-street, when the following were elected to their respective offices,-The R. W. M. John Crawford, was unanimously re-elected; Bro. Railton, Secretary; Bro.

* Dr. Arnott, of Arlary, is a most distinguished and zealous Mason; what say ye to the chiel?-he'll work right well.-ED.

M'Canth, Treasurer; and Bro. Gow, Past Master. There were very respectable deputations from the following Lodges, viz., Rutherglen Royal Arch Lodge; Thistle Lodge, Glasgow; Kilwinning Lodge, No. 4; St. Mark's Lodge; St. Patrick's Lodge; and Glasgow and Bridgeton Shamrock and Thistle Lodge. The evening was spent in a very agreeable and harmonious manner, well calculated to enhance the spirit of the Order, and to recommend the principles of Masonry, which are founded upon the practice of social and moral virtue.

IRELAND.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received numerous letters on the subject of the construction by the Irish Council of Rites on the non-eligibility of certain Brethren to the honours of the 33rd degree. All we have to say on the matter is, "let the Irish Grand Council look at home." There is an old adage, look ye now, 66 those who have glass houses should not throw stones." We have selected the most telling of our Correspondents' letters.

EXTRACTS FROM A CORRESPONDENT whose voluminous communication

has (as usual) arrived late; but for the delay of which upon the present occasion, an excuse has been assigned, which not only insures our forgiveness, but claims our fraternal sympathy with a Brother who has suffered many afflictions.

"With respect to the extraordinary proceedings of the Council of Rites, which have been spoken of and threatened, and the proceedings scarce less justifiable or reasonable, although considerably more prudent, which have been actually taken in the case of Bro. Walter Lawrence, jun., I regret that the circumstances which I have mentioned to you in my private letter have prevented me from taking a part in these transactions, or from qualifying myself (by personal attendance in high places.) The facts may be summed up in these few words:-Bro. Walter Lawrence having become entitled to assist in conferring a degree called 'the past Master's degree,' under a warrant from the Grand R. A. Chapter of Scotland, was also entitled to sit as Master of a blue or craft Lodge in Scotland, and, as I understand, having actually so presided, considered that he had obtained the degree of Past-Master in such a manner, as would ensure him to similar privileges in this country. It appears, however, that we, Irish Masons, are wiser than our neighbours, and more cautious of mistake or irregularity, than is the 'canny Scot. It is certainly delightful to me to hear such good report' of my beloved countrymen, but the satisfaction which I experience is in a slight degree diminished by the reflection, that that report rests upon the averment of a portion, however select, of Irish Masons themselves.

It appears, Ι say, that Brother W. Lawrence, jun., is NOT admitted nor admissible here to a rank and privilege to which he would be entitled

VOL. IV.

K K

in the oldest Lodge in the world,*-mother Kilwinning,—and in the country most celebrated of all the world for its religious preservation of, and adherence to, all systems of relationship between man and man, (Freemasonry amongst the rest), whether natural, religious, political, or educational.

How this question might be decided in England I do not enquire; but I feel assured that, in the Grand Lodge of England, not a single individual would have stepped forward to insinuate a personal charge or complaint against a Brother standing in the position of Bro. Lawrence. Bro. Lawrence is, indeed, 'prior of Kilmainham,' under a grant from the Chivalric Order of the Temple; and that Order is (I believe), disapproved of, or looked upon with some degree of suspicion or of alarm, by a large, or by a certain portion, (whether large or small,) of the English fraternity. Bro. Lawrence is also Provincial Grand Master for Ireland of the Scottish Royal Order of Robert Bruce, whereof I had the high honour of being the first person who received the mysteries in this country. Bro. Lawrence also received the thirty-third degree in Scotland. But even these grave offences would, I humbly opine, have been pardoned in England. And why are they HERE made the subject of prosecution? Why are futile, frivolous, and ridiculous charges made against Bro. Lawrence? Because those who, in the battle of the higher degrees, were generously allowed by their victorious opponents to walk out of their entrenchments with all the honours of war, are still on the alert, and busily engaged in the manufacture of a wooden horse, by means of which they hope to obtain, through stratagem, a position somewhat similar to that from which they have been already fairly, soundly, (and, shall I not say, fraternally?) beaten in a fair field, or rather, in a field wherein they had every conceivable advantage. stitch in time saves nine,' I, therefore, do not hesitate to expose this trifling rent in our garment, to which a slight but timely application of the needle is necessary in order to prevent future patchwork.

'A

I am the more anxious to leave undone no portion of my duty, whilst permitted to enjoy the highly honorary rank of a correspondent to the F. Q. R., because I feel and KNOW that I possess the key of all those secrets which are rather unmasonically introduced amongst the Craft. Of all my numerous communications to the F. Q. R., NOT ONE has been ever even contradicted, and therefore it is not unreasonable that I should assume to myself that knowledge, discernment, and skill, which, indeed, alone would entitle me to assume the responsibility of announcing facts, or suggesting inferences, to that powerful and independent organ of Masonic opinions. Now I do not hesitate to declare that this present assault, a brutum fulmen as it is, is shot from the same quiver from which so many annoyances have been discharged against every regular system of the higher degrees of Masonry in Ireland, and against every person who did good or honest service in their defence, from the Marquis of Kildare, or Bro. Hercules Ellis, or Bro. Lawrence, down to my humble self.

An address now in the hands of our amiable Brother, George James Baldwin, the creator of Lodge 50, has been prepared for the purpose of testifying the respect of the universal Craft of Ireland to its accomplished member, Bro. W. Lawrence, Jun. It has already received not

* I mean, of course, only the oldest of those whose antiquity has become the subject of scrutiny.

only respectable but distinguished signatures; and I can positively assert that before another month has elapsed, this address will carry with it the most ample distinction and authority. As this ADDRESS has been so far proceeded with, no doubt can be entertained as to what ought to be, and will, and must be the result; but I rather incline to wonder at its original adoption, for if addresses of the Order are to be bestowed upon every man who happens to be calumniated by those who live and move and have their being in an atmosphere of perpetual aspersion and vituperation, the Masons of Dublin will have enough to do. What most astonishes me is my own most singular escape; when I consider the sort of persons who are assailed, I cannot account for my indemnity from libel upon the grounds of my deserts; nor do I consider that a person who has ever corresponded with your Review, can be considered so contemptible as to be beneath the dignity of rebuke or vilification. In no way can I account for this singular phenomenon except upon the hypothesis, that all who know anything, however slight, concerning my Masonic character, are aware that attacks, such as have excited the anger, and stimulated the rhetoric of Bro. Ellis, or such as now appear to have wounded the feelings of Bro. Lawrence and his friends, would, if directed against me, whether in prose or verse, fail to excite that anger which should be either entirely subdued or reserved for higher purposes."

"Just as the post is going out I have received a copy of Saunders's news letter, containing a report of the concert, at which the Lyra Masonica made its first bow to the public. Mr. Ellis's name is in this report for the first time mentioned, and that in a very transitory and insufficient manner. About fifty announcements have been published in various papers concerning this concert; but why (until the appearance of the report which I now transmit) has the name of Ellis never even once been mentioned, nor transpired? this is a question which can only be solved by one who is in possession of that master-key which I have above alluded to.

The report which I now send you is so very flattering and impartial as to announce to the public that Mr. Ellis is the author of one of the songs in this collection. Other reviews and notices have declared to the effect, that the original matter of the poetical part is by VARIOUS authors. Now the simple fact is, that ALL the original matter, amounting to, I think, above a dozen songs, is by Bro. Hercules Ellis, which announcement could surely have been as easily penned as any of those roundabout notices which have appeared, and would have been no ways objectionable, save in one respect, viz., that it would have been strictly true."

Concert-Lyra Masonica, June 11.-There was a concert given in the Pillar-room of the Rotunda, novel in its character, but attended with other merits than those arising from the fact of mere novelty. The musical banquet was one under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the great theme of song the merits of the mystic brotherhood; the composer and adapter of the various airs and concerted pieces on the subject being Dr. Smith, who offered on the occasion a happy and effective selection from a new work of his, entitled Lyra Masonica.' It might have been thought an experiment of no little difficulty to dwell so much upon the one theme, at least in the presence of that part of the audience not admitted into the body whose utility and fellowship was advocated so effectively; but the changes were rung so well as to do

away with any sense of monotony, and several of the airs were very striking specimens of the composer's skill. One of the gems of the night was the Initiation Song, the words by Mr. Ellis, ' O fount of light.' The melody is graceful and touching, at once winning its way to the heart, and it was sung with charming purity and delicacy of expression by Mr. Geary, who was encored. The quartett, A Mason's life the life for me,' was also one of those warmly called for a second time, and Dr. Smith and Messrs. R. Smith, Geary, and Yoakley gave it with spirit and judgment. Dr. Smith in the second part of the concert sung an elaborate monody on the death of Sir R. Sale, and Mr. R. Smith's fine voice told well in the concerted music in which he took a part. Mr. Levey's violin playing was marked by several very good points, and his bowing is clear and correct, displaying a facile hand. A military band was added to the strength of the corps, arrayed in the honour of Masonry, and the many-coloured decorations of the Brotherhood added not a little to the appearance of the room. The concert was both numerously and fashionably attended, and, between the intervals in the programme, refreshments were served in an adjoining room.

Supreme Grand Council of Rites, March 18.-A resolution was passed to the effect that the majority of a committee, consisting of the officers, i. e., the M. W. Sojourner and Wardens of all the Chapters, or their proxies, shall be sufficient to pass candidates for admission to the degree of P. G. R. C. The Duke of Leinster and, we believe, also a great proportion of the members of the Kilwinning Chapter were opposed to this innovation, but it was carried.

"Thus this degree, which has been considered until very lately almost unattainable in Ireland (except by individuals favoured by a certain few), is now reduced nearly to the level of all other grades of the Order.

I will not at present express any opinion upon the propriety or impropriety of the change which has been thus effected. How far the idea of an aristocratic degree in Masonry is consistent with the general principles of Masonic confraternity I will not now inquire; nor shall I moot the question, whether or not the exclusiveness, which has hitherto prevailed in this degree in Ireland, has been the exclusiveness of rank, and of the pride of birth or station—or whether, on the contrary, it has been that of mere favouritism and monopoly. The change now made may be for the better; but if such be the case, why did not those who have now insisted upon it, propose it before? why did they up to this moment cling to the policy which they now condemn? why did they themselves first make the rule, and afterwards adhere to it with such jealous pertinacity? and why do they now so suddenly wheel about to so contrary a position? Is it because the baby-house has been opened to a few, and that the original possessors of the toys now wish, from mere motives of pique, to make them common property to all comers, since they are no longer the subject of a monopoly? Is it because those who opened the close borough now wish to establish a new monopoly upon the ruins of the first? or is it that the Kilwinning Chapter is becoming an object of envy, and that in order to abate its pride, the order of Prince or Rose Croix Masonry is to be swamped? or, finally, is the change of policy the result merely of a conscientious alteration of opinions, honestly formed at first, and afterwards as honestly thrown aside?

6

I am unable to solve these queries, and shall only say that I love plain straight-forward courses-I respect the bold free-trader, the consistent protectionist, but I am no admirer of any sliding-scale.”